Coated means for connecting a chip and a card

ABSTRACT

A container having a snapped-in valve adapter is provided according to the invention with the elastic cooperation, upon engagement and disengagement, of an arrow projecting from the tangential plane of the adapter with one of a plurality of recesses disposed on the circumference of the container with the arrowhead in the direction and the opposite direction of the arrow.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a container having a snapped-in valve adapter,and in particular, to a container having a snapped in valve adaptor inwhich an arrow projects out of a tangential plane of the adaptor andacts elastistically with one of several recesses on the periphery of thecontainer when locking and unlocking.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Valve adapters according to the invention are used for opening andclosing the valve gate disposed in the interior of the valve andreachable with the adapter from outside. In particular the inventivevalve adapter is provided with a discharge pipe and a handle. When thehandle is operated e.g. the valve gate is opened via a small valve pipe,the so-called valve stem, through which the substrate flows out and thuspasses into the adapter pipe. Adapters of this type are usedparticularly on pressure cans for holding the substrate together in theadapter pipe and discharging it selectively when the valve has beenopened. Such adapters frequently have at the outer end of the adapterpipe a clamping joint for an extension pipe which can be slipped on andused for discharging the substrate selectively upon operation of thehandle even when the substrate must emerge at a large distance away fromthe valve. An example of such applications of the invention arepolyurethane foams in cans which are used mainly in the constructiontrade for sealing members.

According to the invention the adapter and valve are producedseparately, the adapter being held together with the container in whichthe substrate is filled until the substrate is to be discharged. This isdone in particular with small drums which contain relatively smallamounts of substrate and whose valve and adapter must be of relativelysimple design. In these and other cases of application of the inventionthe valve and adapter generally consist of separate plastic parts.

According to the invention the valve adapter has a snap-in lockingdevice which serves to positively connect the adapter temporarily withthe container having the valve and containing the substrate so as toguarantee that the adapter is available when the substrate is to bedischarged. Such snap-in connections make outer packages superfluouswhich enclose the parts but are undesirable in the interests of avoidingpackaging waste. The inventive snap-in locking device permits the valveadapter to be used several times if only partial amounts of thesubstrate are consumed and the valve adapter is to be held readyreliably between several of these processes.

When the invention is applied to cans, in particular pressure cans asare used e.g. for polyurethane foams, the gap is expediently provided inthe can cap which has up to now served only to cover the valve toexclude untimely actuation of the can valve. Because of theircomparatively low value, such and other drums must be finished onfast-working packaging machines. Up to now these have generally beenfilling machines which output the capped and ready labeled pressure can.

Up to now it has been common practice to have usually female workersunite the can cap with the valve adapter and snap them together by hand.Although this involves considerable labor, known snap-in locking devicescannot be united mechanically, not even when the can is already providedwith the cap.

This is impossible in particular with a known valve adapter (DE-GM G 9209 492.9) which can be connected positively with a can cap with thesnap-in locking device. This is because the cap cover has a gap and theedges of the gap form a connecting link guide extending axis-parallel tothe can and its cover. The projection serves as a sliding block and musttherefore be introduced into the connecting link through the gap in thecan cap from above. In a packaging machine this requires a change ofdirection since the adapter must first be guided radially over the cancap and then introduced axially into the connecting link. Such motionsare difficult to realize and furthermore requires the connecting link tobe aligned with the sliding block before the sequence of motions begins.Consequently valve adapters with the known snap-in locking device can beconnected with the can cap only by hand labor.

In practice a further disadvantage becomes apparent. It consists in thatmany buyers in self-service stores do not only want to buy the adapterprovided with the can cap, but also remove adapters from other can capsto be able to have several adapters. With the known connecting linkguide this is easy because the positive locking exists only in theradial direction and the adapter can be readily detached from the cancap by being pushed axially upward.

The invention therefore takes a different path, the basic idea beingrendered in claim 1. Further features of the invention are the object ofthe subclaims.

Since the barbed projection is formed as an arrow preferably alignedperpendicular to the adapter according to the invention, the packagingmachine need only perform a radial motion in the direction of the arrowto introduce the adapter into the gap, the adapter being brought up tothe can cap in the direction of the arrow with the head of the arrow. Assoon as the arrowhead reaches the gap the motion in the direction of thearrow occurs for bending the locking spring, which is unbent afterlocking. The invention thus permits easier handling for snapping in theadapter and creates the preconditions for replacing hand labor bypackaging machines with a high cycle number.

According to the invention the projection of the adapter need no longerbe aligned with a certain gap before locking occurs, since the gap issubdivided into a plurality of recesses which can each enter into asnap-in connection with the adapter projection. One can increase theprobability of the projection hitting one of the recesses as soon ase.g. a packaging machine brings the adapter with its projection up tothe snap-in connection by reducing the recesses so far that the machinewill as a rule always hit the snap-in connection. Since a snap-inconnection is involved, however, the user can separate the adaptersnapped to the container from the adapter any time when he proceeds todischarge the substrate by drawing up the arrowhead to as to overcomethe locking spring.

The invention thus provides a machine-compatible design of the snap-inconnection which facilitates hand labor and permits the adapter to besnapped to the container in a packaging machine with a correspondingincrease in speed and high degree of rationalization.

The arrow is for example largely inflexible and can be made of solidmaterial. According to the features of claim 2 it displaces the edges ofthe gap by elastic deformation of the material, which returns to itsoriginal form behind the arrowhead so that the back of the arrow isseated behind the gap edges which bring about therewith a positivelocking of the valve adapter. Conversely, upon release of the snap-inconnection the elastic gap edges are urged outward by the back of thearrow, thereby eliminating the positive locking and releasing the valveadapter.

The invention does not only have the advantage of providing favorablepreconditions for usual packaging machines, which also pay off for handlabor since it is relatively easy to put the arrow in the gap by hand.It furthermore has the advantage that it can provide closed gaps whichachieve a polydirectional positive locking making it difficult forunauthorized persons to separate the adapter from the container, inparticular from the can cap.

For this advantage no complicated design of the snap-in connection isneeded. It suffices to provide two opposite edges of the gap fordisplacement upon establishment and upon release of the snap-inconnection. It is then advisable to use in particular forms according toclaim 4.

For such and other embodiments of the invention it is suitable to usedesigns of the arrow and the recesses according to claim 5. The roundingof the wedge edge has the advantage that one obtains compact arrowdesigns which result in a short arrow length, thereby reducing the depthof the gaps without impairing the handling ease of the valve adapter andits simple design. One has the additional advantage that the snapped-invalve adapter cannot be turned around the shaft of the arrow, resultingin a defined alignment of the adapter which, with pressure cans,expediently consists in keeping the extension pipe united with theadapter axis-parallel to the pressure can as soon as the valve adapteris snapped in.

The embodiments of the invention made possible by realizing the featuresof claim 6 result in a connection of the valve adapter which ispractically free from play so that the adapter is held in itspredetermined association with the valve or pressure can. This makes iteasier to package corresponding drums and hold them ready for sale. Thiscan be obtained in a simple way with the features of claim 7.

With many pressure cans the end of the adapter pipe encloses an anglewith the pipe socket slipped on the valve. This is the case inparticular with pressure cans filled with a liquid gas for dischargingthe substrate. In these cases claim 8 permits alignment of the extensionpipe with the pressure can for establishing the axis-parallelism.

In most packaging machines the containers are filled and finishedupright. For these cases it is advisable to make use of the features ofclaims 9 and 10. The rotary position of the container relative to thestationary machine unit which stretches forward the adapter with itsprojection plays no part here. At least one of the recesses is insteadhit in any rotary position.

The invention can in particular be applied to pressure cans of thedescribed type expediently according to claim 12. It is then expedientto realize the features of claim 11. Since the recesses are disposed inthe valve cap of the pressure can here, no special measures arenecessary on the pressure can for providing the relevant parts of thesnap-in connection there. The pressure cans can then have the usualsmooth metal cylindrical shape.

One will thereby dispose the recesses on the circumference of a radialcircle around the axis of symmetry of the container cap, providing themat a relatively small interval in order to guarantee most reliably thatthe arrow hits a recess when the adapter is stretched forward. The thencomparatively thin webs of adjacent recesses serve as springs of thesnap-in connection since the material is sufficiently elastic.

The embodiments of the invention are of importance with small drumswherein the adapter is held with its adapter pipe substantiallyaxis-parallel to the axis of symmetry of the container to permit aspace-saving packaging and setup of the goods on the shelves ofself-service stores, such as building supplies stores. This is anotherreason why the features of claim 13 are expedient whereby the gaps canform slots whose longer axis extends perpendicular to the radial plane.For in these cases a corresponding profiling of the arrow permits theadapter to be blocked against rotation in the gap.

It also makes it much easier to incorporate the adapter projection inone of the recesses when remaining misalignments are compensated by acorresponding guide which leads the adapter projection into the nearestrecess. For this purpose the webs can be profiled with centering slopesfor the adapter arrow. This guarantees that each web has a centeringslope for both adjacent gaps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The details, other advantages and features of the invention will resultfrom the following description of an embodiment with reference to thefigures in the drawing, in which

FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section through a broken view of the can capwith the snapped-in valve adapter, which is also shown in a broken view.

FIG. 2 shows a section along line III--III in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of a pressure can with a snapped-in adapter.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the pressure can cap of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment modified over FIGS. 3 and 4 in the viewcorresponding to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment in the view corresponding to FIGS. 3and 4.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment in the view corresponding to FIGS. 4 to6.

FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of FIG. 7 in a horizontal section and abroken view.

FIG. 9 shows a modified embodiment in the view corresponding to FIGS. 4to 7.

FIGS. 10 and 10a show a further modified embodiment in the viewcorresponding to FIG. 9, FIG. 10a showing a top view in the lowerdrawing.

FIG. 11 shows a further modified embodiment according to the inventionin a view corresponding to FIGS. 4 to 6.

FIG. 12 shows a section along line XI--XI of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a broken section along line XII--XII of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 shows a modified embodiment.

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of the adapter projection in the viewcorresponding to FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 shows another embodiment substantially according to the view ofFIG. 15.

FIG. 17 shows a horizontal section in a broken view along lineXVII--XVII of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The substrate contained in can 1 is under the pressure of a propellant.The can valve is covered with cap 2 mounted on the can cylinder andconnected therewith in frictionally engaged and/or positive fashion. Theadapter designated in general as 3 can be applied to the valve (notshown) with sleeve 6 of pipe socket 9 and has two handles provided withrecessed grips for the fingers of one hand when the adapter is to beused to operate, e.g. tilt, the valve gate in order to free the way forthe substrate into adapter pipe 9. Behind pipe 9 following sleeve 6,adapter pipe 3 is bent at 12 so that its free end 11 encloses an acuteangle with pipe socket 6, 9. Extension pipe 10 can be slipped on freeend 11 of the adapter pipe and is connected therewith in frictionalengagement.

On one of its flanks the adapter has a projection designated as 4 inFIG. 3. This serves as part of a snap-in connection of valve adapter 3with can cap 2 as apparent in particular from FIGS. 2 and 3.

According to the view in FIG. 1, projection 4 is formed as an arrowaligned perpendicular to the adapter. It accordingly has an arrowheadforming a wedge with two slopes or wedge surfaces 36, 37. The ends ofwedge 36, 37 are undercut at 14 and 15, thus forming barbs actingcontrary to the direction of the arrow which settle behind edges 16 and17 of the gap which is designated in general as 5. The gap isrectangular and therefore has upper and lower gap edges 18 and 19interconnecting vertical edges 16 and 17.

According to the embodiment, arrow shaft 13 is provided with slot-shapedgap 35 penetrating the wedge. The material of projection 4 is elasticand thus forms a spring in which the wedge is incorporated.

When projection 4 is pressed forward into gap 5 with rounded wedge edge38 in the direction of its described arrow, its arrowhead gives way dueto slot 35 when slopes 36, 37 run onto gap edges 16 and 17 so that thematerial of the arrow is displaced inward and the spring bent. The wedgetip is thereby deformed until undercuts 14 and 15 are located behind theinside jacket of the cap or gap edges 16 and 17. Due to the elasticityof the material the spring is then unbent and gap edges 16 and 17 passinto groove 21 formed by the undercut. The edges of wedge slopes 36, 37act as barbs contrary to the direction of the arrow, while the rear edgeprevents further insertion of the arrow into gap 5 when the positivelocking of the snap-in connection is established.

Upon release of the snap-in connection projection 4 is pulled out in thereverse direction of the arrow, whereby the spring of the arrowhead isbent again and slopes 36 and 37 then slide outward on the gap edgesuntil the spring is unbent.

Deviating from the shown embodiment, projection 4 and arrow 13 are madeof solid material. In this case gap edges 16 and 17 serve as a springwhich is elastically deformed with the arrowhead and the barbs.

As apparent from FIG. 2, the arrow is pointed doubly with slopesdisposed in pairs. As apparent from FIG. 3, the barbs formed byundercuts 14 and 15 are located on flat sides 22, 23 of its shaft 13.Consequently shaft 13 of the arrow cannot be rotated around its axisafter positive locking is established, as apparent in particular fromFIG. 3. This guarantees the position of the adapter relative to the canas apparent from FIG. 1.

The form of the arrow can be simplified further if groove 21 is omittedand undercuts 16 and 17 are followed by a smooth shaft. In this case thedistance of undercuts 14 and 15 forming the barbs from the tangentialplane to outer rounding 24 of adapter pipe 9 should correspondsubstantially to the depth of the gap in order to guarantee littleradial play between adapter 3 and the can or cap cylinder. One can thenprevent the adapter pipe from accidentally assuming an angular positionrelative to the pressure can.

The center plane of the wedge tip, which is rendered by dash-dot line 25in FIG. 2, encloses an acute angle with the axis of adapter pipe 9likewise shown by a dash-dot line in FIG. 1. This guarantees that thesnapped-in adapter pipe cannot be swiveled out of its axis-parallelposition relative to the can cylinder in the plane of projection of FIG.1.

Pressure can 101 covers the can valve with can cap 102 mounted onpressure can 101. Adapter 103 can be mounted on the can valve. Cover 102has recesses 105 to which projection 104 molded on adapter 103 issnapped. The adapter itself has sleeve 106 to be mounted on a dischargepipe of the can valve and connected nonpositively therewith. Recessedgrips 107 permit the user to exert pressure on sleeve 106 to open theoutlet valve. The substrate contained in the pressure can then flowsinto following pipe 112 which is bent relative to pipe end 111. Adapterextension pipe 110 can be slipped on pipe end 111 and is heldnonpositively thereby. The substrate can then be directed with free end108 of the adapter selectively even into hidden places like crevices andundercuts.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, pressure can 101 has groove113 running in a radius around the axis of symmetry of the container,which constitutes the longitudinal axis of the container because of thecylindrical shape of the pressure can, said groove being engaged bycircumferential inwardly protruding collar 114 when the pressure cancover is properly fitted. In a packaging machine the pressure can cap ismounted mechanically because the material of the pressure can cap giveselastically. The slip-on motion of cap 102 on can 101 is thereby limitedwith the help of web 116 according to the embodiment of FIG. 3. In theembodiment of FIG. 4 the same purpose is served by circumferentialprojection 117 in the cover. Recess 105 cooperating with the adapterprojection is located in each case above the parts of the capcooperating with groove 114.

The embodiments according to FIGS. 4, 8, 9 and 11 all show a pluralityof recesses 105 each one of which can enter into a snap-in connectionwith the adapter projection. In these embodiments, however, recesses 105are disposed only on part of circumference 118 of cap 102 in an anglerange smaller than 90'. The examples in FIGS. 5, 7 and 9 are preferredembodiments of the invention because each cap 102 is distributed alongentire circumference 118 of a radial circle around the axis of symmetryof the container and thus of cap 102, so that an angular orientation ofrecesses 105 relative to the moving direction of the adapter projectionis unnecessary.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6 recesses 105 of pressure can cap 102 arerealized with slots 120. In these cases the closed design of therecesses obtains a polydirectional positive locking so that the adapterprojection can be released from the snap-in connection with pressure cancover 102 only by a radial motion. The slots extend parallel to axis ofsymmetry 119 of cap 102 and thus of the container formed by the pressurecan. According to the view in FIG. 9, however, recesses 105 are slots121 disposed on circumference 118 of cap 102 perpendicular to the axisof symmetry of the cap.

Cap 102 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 6 is subdivided intotwo integral cylinders passing into each other at the place designated122. Smaller-diameter cylinder 123 borders on the bottom of the cap,while greater-diameter cylinder 124 extends from shoulder 122 to theopen end of the cap. Shoulder 122 is located in a radial plane of thecap and extends over circumference 118 of the cap. Recesses 105 arelocated on shoulder 122 in greater-diameter cap cylinder 124. They arelikewise formed as slots 125. Their longer axis extends perpendicular toradial plane 118. However the slots end at the beginning ofsmaller-diameter cap cylinder 123. They thus constitute a connection ofthe two cap cylinders.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 the recesses in can cap 102 realize lattice128. This lattice contains recesses 127 which can be formed as square tocircular openings 129 in circumference 118 of cap 102.

However, recesses 105 of cap 102 in the embodiment of FIG. 10 consist oflongitudinal slots 130 forming with corresponding transverse slots 131 astructural unit which is crossed at right angles by longitudinal slots130. In the crossing area of slots 130 and 131 one obtains the ends ofsprings 132 which give elastically and guarantee easy snap-in locking ofprojection 104 on adapter 103 with cap 102.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 to 13 window 133 is set in circumference118 of cap 102. Guides 134 are molded on the inside of cap 102. Theseguides are open toward cover opening 137 so that receiving plate 136 canbe inserted from this side into guide 134 until it rests in guide bottom138. Between cap opening 137 and window 133 there are molded-in catches135 which fix receiving plate 136 in guides 134. Receiving plate 136bears recesses 105 which are reachable through window 133 for adapterprojection 114. Receiving plate 136 can be formed as a flatinjection-molded part (cf. FIG. 12) which is elastically deformed beforeinsertion in guide 134.

On circumference 118 of cap 102 one can consequently provide any desiredcombination of slots 120, 121, 125 and crossing longitudinal andtransverse slots 130, 131 and/or openings 129 for receiving projection104 of adapter 103 to be able to snap different forms of the projectionto the same cap 102.

The cap according to FIGS. 10 and 10a has on its cover facing away fromopening 137 a notch which is used as aligning aid 139 in the packagingmachine. Aligning aid 139 is used to align cap 102 for introducingprojection 104 disposed on adapter 103 in one of the recesses withsufficient probability.

According to FIGS. 14 to 17 the vertical edges of the recess are beveledand form guiding surfaces 140 with which projection 104 is centered. Thetwo slopes 146, 147 of wedge-shaped arrowhead 141 thereby cooperate withguiding surfaces 140 as soon as wedge tip 141 is moved in the directionof the arrow for locking with can cap 102. The arrowhead is againundercut at 148 and 149, forming barbs with these undercuts. In thesnapped-in state barbs 148 and 149 are supported on the associated edgesof recess 105. This results in a positive locking of projection 104 withcan cap 102, which is eliminated again upon motion of projection 104 inthe opposite direction so that the adapter can be separated from can cap102.

The snap-in lock is therefore based on the spring action of the elasticmaterial. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 12 the arrowhead itselfbecomes the spring, whose elasticity is increased by the slotpenetrating the wedge in the direction of the arrow and in the oppositedirection.

However, in the embodiment of FIG. 14 one-sided arrow-head 151 isprovided, spring 152 of arrow 151 consisting of an acute-angled bend ofarrow shaft 153. When arrow 153 is pushed into gap 105 in the directionof the arrow, spring 152 is deformed and forms, after crossing gap 105,a barb which is supported on the inside of pressure can cap cylinder102.

In the embodiment of FIG. 15 arrow 154 is formed as a rotational solid,i.e. it has outwardly cylindrical shaft 155 and a conical head formingwith undercut 145 a barb which brings about the positive locking withcan cap 102, as fundamentally explained above in connection with FIGS. 1and 2. The springiness necessary for bringing about the positive lockingof the snap-in lock can be guaranteed by resiliency of the edges ofrecess 10S or resiliency of the arrowhead and thus of undercut 145.

The embodiment of FIG. 16 corresponds substantially to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2 with the exception that the wedge surfaces are disposed atthe end of forking 156 of arrow shaft 157. The fork prongs ensure thespring action. The snap-in locking takes place here, too, through theresiliency of arrow springs 157 and 158.

As soon as the snap-in locking has occurred, projection 104 is supportedon outside cylinder 118 of can cap 102. This is obtained by support 142molded on projection 104. When the adapter is snapped to can cap 102,support 142 guarantees a strain which fixes the adapter.

I claim:
 1. A container having a snapped-in valve adapter comprising:anarrow projecting out of the tangential plane of the adapter with one ofa plurality of recesses disposed on the circumference of the container,said arrow having flat sides and said arrow cooperating elastically uponengagement and disengagement of said adapter with said recesses; and anarrowhead pointed in the direction and the opposite direction of saidarrow at the end thereof.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein saidarrow is formed as a projection aligned perpendicular to the adapter,wherein said arrowhead elastically widens said recesses in the directionof said arrow upon establishment of a snap-in-connection, said arrowheadof its back doing so upon release of said snap-in connection, therebeing a positive locking of said arrowhead with mutually opposed gapedges when said snap-in connection is closed.
 3. The container of claim1, wherein said arrowhead is elastically deformable.
 4. The container ofclaim 1, wherein said arrow has wedge-shaped edges and has barbs forestablishing a positive lock, said barbs being associated with flatsides of said arrow, said wedge-shaped edges being rounded.
 5. Thecontainer of claim 1, wherein said arrow has an arrow shaft which has across section, said cross section of said arrow shaft and the contour ofsaid recesses being coordinated in such a way that said valve adapter isrotationally fixed after establishment of said snap-in connection. 6.The container of claim 2, wherein said container has front and back gapedges, there being a positive locking of said back gap edges and saidfront gap edges with said adapter after establishment of said snap-inlock.
 7. The container of claim 4, wherein said arrowhead has extendedwedge flanks which form barbs whose distance from the tangential planeto the outer rounding of an adapter pipe corresponds substantially tothe depth of said gap.
 8. The container of claim 7, wherein coaxialalignment of said adapter with said containers the center plane of thewedge tips and/or of said arrow shaft cross sections encloses an acuteangle with the axis of said adapter pipe relative to which said adapteris bent.
 9. The container of claim 1, wherein said plurality of recessesare formed as a snap-in connection with said projection of said adapter.10. The container of claim 1, wherein said recesses are disposed side byside on a common radial plane through the axis of symmetry of saidcontainer and penetrate a cylinder surface, the webs of adjacentrecesses serving as springs of said snap-in connection and enclosingslots whose longer axis extends perpendicular to said radial plane. 11.The container of claim 10, wherein said webs are profiled intrapezoidally symmetric fashion with centering slopes for a projectionof said adapter, said shorter trapezoid side being oriented outward. 12.The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said recesses are provided in a valvecap of a pressure can wherein said cap has an at least partlycircumferential transition subdividing said transition from a smallercap cylinder bordering on said cover of said cap to a greater capcylinder reaching as far as a cap opening, said greater cylinder havingslots at said transition of said greater cap cylinder and said smallercap cylinders and said webs starting between said slots on said greatercap cylinder and ending in said smaller cap cylinder.
 13. The apparatusof claim 12, wherein said recesses are provided on a fraction of saidcircumference of said cap and said cap has an aligning aid.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein said recesses in said cover of said capconsist of a longitudinal slot and at least one transverse slot crossingsaid longitudinal slot.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a windowis set on said circumference of said cap, said window being covered witha receiving plate disposed in guides and fixed with catches, saidreceiving plate having said recesses.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said recesses consist of slots and longitudinal and transverseslots crossing said slots, and/or holes.